Scaffold



1960 s. D. WENDL ETAL 2,957,670

SCAFFOLD Filed Nov. 19, 1957 42 28 kV Auk NIW/ Am\ ;,26

George 0. Wend/ Steve SiracAgl VEN TORS BY V WWW M-#0:

2,957,670 SCAFFOLD George D. Wendi, Hemlock PointRoad, R.D. 2, Falls, Ohio, and Steve Siracki, Box 205, Hiram, Ohio Filed Nov. 19, 1957, Sel; No. 697,434

' l Claim. 01.;248-216 The present invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a I pair of specially designed and constructedbracketswhichare such in construction that they may be satisfactorily used to build asatisfactory scaffold, using two-by-fours as verticals or support members, and readily available planks to provide a safe and reliable P o H.

It not uncommon to erect staging for workmen and knock-down scafiolds wherein available lumber on the job is I employed for support members and horizontal platforms. Therefore, since numerous and varying patents have been issued in this line of endeavor, it seems significant to point out, at the beginning, that novelty is predicated not on the available lumber (such as two-byfours and planks) but rather on the brackets or devices which enable such lumber to be successfully and reliably used in erecting a strong and satisfactory scaffold.

In carrying out the principles of the present invention novelty is predicated on the one hand on finger brackets which have hooks whereby they may be connected with the most advantageous parts of the frame structure, for example the customary roof plates.

Further novelty is predicated on the novel bracket means employed not only for supporting the planks in making up the platform but for attachment to the support timbers or two-by-fours, said means being particularly significant in that it is characterized by a diagonal brace arm the lower end of which is pointed and extended so that it embeds itself in the fibers of the wood, thus insuring reliable anchorage and cooperation with the support timber.

Then, too, novelty is predicated on the stated means characterized by a substantially U-shaped metal strap forming the body part of the bracket and providing spaced arms between which simple metal cleats are arranged to function not only as spacers but as plank retaining lugs.

Other objects, features and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Fig. 1 is a view in section and elevation showing parts of a building framework and illustrating the single vertical timber and planks and how they are arranged and cooperate with the novel brackets, the latter constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the upper hook-equipped bracket or hanger.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the plank and platform erecting bracket or bracket means.

Referring now to Fig. 2 the hook-equipped hanger or so-callled upper bracket is denoted generally by the numeral 6 and it is preferably of one-piece construction and has a depending leg 8 with a hook on its upper end the hook embodying the component portions 10 and 12. The lower end portion of the arm, as at 14 fits between the spaced portions of a U-shaped clip 16 and the two to be on-the-job material and they are denoted by the 3 parts together provide a collar which embraces the upper end portion of the two-by-four or equivalent support-1 timber 18. The collar is provided with nail holes 20 to accommodate nails 22 thus making it possible to attach the timber and bracket together as seen in Fig. 1. It will i be noticed here that the collar is pushed down from the upper end of the timber so that part of the arm 8 rests against the timber and 1 distributes the stress and strain and makes for a rigid cooperation of parts.

i The aforementioned boards or planks are also intended numeral 24 and when assembled or put together as seen in Fig. 1 they provide the desired platform. The bracket means here is novel and is denoted generally by the numeral 26 and as seen in Fig. 3 it comprises a metal strap which is bent upon itself at 28 to form an elongated. U-shaped member 30 the opposed parallel limbs of which are denoted at 32. Adjacent the bight portion we provide nail holes 34 for use in the manner seen in Fig. 1. The aforementioned metal cleats 36'have their lower half portions fitted between the limbs 32 and secured in place and have their upper end portions 38 projecting to provide spacing and retaining lugs. Thus the cleats not only reinforce the over-all construction but they satisfactorily arrange theplank s in the manner seen in Fig. 1 Adjacent the bight portion 28 there is a specially elongated cleat which is perhaps better referred to as a leg 40 and the median portion of this passes between the limbs 32 functioning not only as a brace but also it extends above the limbs to serve also as a spacer at 42. The lower end thereof '44 is welded inwardly of the adjacent end portion 46 of a diagonal brace 48. The brace is joined at its outer end to the U-shaped member and has its projecting end slightly beveled or sharpened to provide a knife-like construction as seen in Fig. 1. The retaining fingers 50 embrace the timber 18 in the manner illustrated. This is indeed a novel construction in that the bight port-ion and limbs 32 cooperating with the leg 40 provide timber-embracing means also having the function of a stabilizer for the over-all bracket means 26. In other words all of the components here contribute their individual shares in providing a novel over-ail plank accommodating and platform building bracket, the expression bracket being used in a rather broad and comprehensive manner.

As before mentioned the invention relates in an overall sense to a knockdown or easy-to-erect scaffold construction with the parts considered singly and collectively, that is the brackets 6 and 26 together and by themselves and also in combination with the timber 18 and the planks 24.

The details of construction are so obviously clear from the illustration of the same in the drawing that the manner of use is almost self-evident. Briefly, the hanger brackets-two or more in use--are hung over the roof plates A of the building framework B as illustrated in Fig. 1. The upper end portion of the timber or twoby-four is passed through the collar and braced against the arm 8 and the collar is nailed in place. The embracing components of the bracket means 26 surround the lower end port-ion of the two-by-four and cooperate therewith to provide an outstanding arm and it is on this arm that the planks are arranged to provide a novel and ready-to-use platform.

With further reference to Figure 3 it will be noticed that the numeral 52 denotes a block which is suitably fastened between the limbs 32 just inwardly of the outermost cleat 36 thus providing a socket for reception and retention of the lower end portion of a post 54. In this connection it is to be explained that a hand rail (not shown) may have to be used at times and one end of the same would be supported atop the post or upright 54.

Patented Oct. 25, 1960;

Also, a simple method of securing the lower end of the post is to pass a bolt or pin 56 through holes which are provided therefor in the manner shown.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, andaccordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

For use in readily erecting and dismantling the platform portion of a scafiold and which lends itself to use in cooperative association with lumber and timber used in and around a building under construction, an arm on which portions of a plurality of coplanar planks may be allowed to rest for support, said arm being elongated and comprising a U-shaped member, said U-shaped member having a pair of spaced parallel limbs joined at like ends by a connecting bight portion, said bight portion and adjacent portions of the limbs being adapted to embrace a timber and having nail holes by way of which the limbs may be fastened-to the timber with the timber resting between the limbs and an edge portion thereof being bridged by the bight portion, a leg disposed at right angles to the lengthwise axes of said limbs, said leg being spaced from said bight portion and having an upper part thereof disposed between the limbs with the end extending to a position above the plane of the upperedges of the limbs, the major portion of said leg depending below the lower edges of said limbs, said leg being adapted to bear firmly against a cooperating edge of the aforementioned timber and having means at a lower end thereof to embrace the timber, and a diagonal brace connected at one end to a median portion of said U-shaped member, the other end cooperating with and projecting beyond the lower end of said leg and terminating in a knife-like edge adapted to be embeddedin the timber,- and a plurality of longitudinally spaced upstanding timber spacing members providing lugs, said'lugs being mounted between the limbs and extending above the limbs to assist in holding the timbers in a temporarily assembled and usable position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 313,465 Worsley Mar. 3, 1885 751,359 Stronach et a1. Feb. 2, 1904 1,251,703 Spencer Jan. 1, 1918 1,662,667 Goldsboro Mar. 13, 1928 1,926,207 MacAlpine Sept. 12, 1933 2,122,190 Wendt June 28, 1938 2,125,830 Vecker Aug. 2, 1938 2,485,838 Nicol Oct. 25, 1949 2,605,074 Bucsko et a1. July 29, 1952 

